mischievous
Full of pranks
Mischievous describes someone inclined to cause minor trouble or annoyance, usually in a playful rather than harmful way: a mischievous grin, mischievous children.
The word suggests impish behavior—pranks, teasing, rule-bending for fun.
Something mischievous may also cause harm without malice: mischievous rumors.
Often mispronounced with four syllables, but standard pronunciation has three.
Shine with flickering light
- sparkleEmit flashing light
- gleamFaint reflected light
- knowingPossessing awareness or insight
- slyCleverly deceptive
wicked · devilish · arch · sidelong · teasing · conspiratorial · amused · dancing
Subject to sudden changes
- fancifulImaginatively unrealistic
- quirkyIdiosyncratically unusual
- unpredictableCannot be anticipated
- mercurialProne to sudden change
flighty · impish · zany · madcap · eccentric · fantastical · imaginative · erratic
Tiny magical troublemaker
- spriteTiny magical creature
- puckishWhimsically inclined to tease
- elfinSmall and sprite-like
- impMinor mischief-making devil
scamp · leprechaun · goblin · fey · brownie · faerie · nymph · puck
One who creates discord
- pranksterSomeone who plays tricks
- disobedientRefusing to follow orders
- unrulyDifficult to control
- waywardStubbornly self-willed
defiant · rebellious · insubordinate · impudent · cheeky · saucy · brazen · irreverent
Cleverly deceptive
- craftyCleverly deceptive
- wilySkilled at deception
- schemingCrafty and calculating
- artfulCleverly deceptive
shrewd · foxy · sneaky · devious · calculating · conniving · underhanded · subtle
Lovable troublemaker
- scoundrelDishonest, unscrupulous person
- rapscallionMischievous person, usually endearing
- scalawagAffectionate term for rogue
- knaveDishonest, unprincipled person
rogue · swindler · ne'er-do-well · cad · blackguard · reprobate · picaresque · rakish
Cutup or wild card
- pranksterSomeone who plays tricks
- jesterRoyal household comedian
- hoaxerOne who deceives playfully
- clownComedic performer in makeup
wag · practical joker · buffoon · fool · harlequin · coyote · provocateur · instigator
twinkle
Shine with flickering light
sly · wicked · devilish · arch · sidelong · teasing · conspiratorial · amused · dancing · bright
capricious
Subject to sudden changes
- fancifulImaginatively unrealistic
- quirkyIdiosyncratically unusual
- unpredictableCannot be anticipated
mercurial · flighty · impish · zany · madcap · eccentric · fantastical · imaginative · erratic · changeable
pixie
Tiny magical troublemaker
imp · scamp · leprechaun · goblin · fey · brownie · faerie · nymph · puck · gremlin
troublemaker
One who creates discord
- pranksterSomeone who plays tricks
- disobedientRefusing to follow orders
- unrulyDifficult to control
wayward · defiant · rebellious · insubordinate · impudent · cheeky · saucy · brazen · irreverent · bad
sly
Cleverly deceptive
artful · shrewd · foxy · sneaky · devious · calculating · conniving · underhanded · subtle · guileful
rascal
Lovable troublemaker
- scoundrelDishonest, unscrupulous person
- rapscallionMischievous person, usually endearing
- scalawagAffectionate term for rogue
knave · rogue · swindler · ne'er-do-well · cad · blackguard · reprobate · picaresque · rakish · devil-may-care
joker
Cutup or wild card
clown · wag · practical joker · buffoon · fool · harlequin · coyote · provocateur · instigator · agitator
teasing
Playful, mild ridicule
- lightheartedCheerful and without worry
- friskyLively and playful
- spiritedFull of vim
sportive · jolly · merry · vivacious · antic · caper · frolic · gamesome · lively · jocular
- tricky spellingsaccommodate, acknowledge, acquaintance, acquire, bureau
- Tricksterstrickster, Loki, rascal, Anansi, Puck
- moodshappy, sad, angry, anxious, excited
- childlike traitsplayful, curious, innocent, imaginative, young
- misbehaviormisbehave, misbehavior, misconduct, naughty, naughtiness
- whimsicalwhimsical, whimsy, fanciful, playful, quirky